In order to address the growing Rohingya Refugee Children crisis in Bangladesh, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and its major donor partners have announced a new US$3.5 million grant that will help thousands of displaced children get back to school.
About 180,000 children in Cox's Bazar, the site of the biggest refugee camp in the world, will be able to resume their education in secure, welcoming, and protected settings thanks to the emergency grant. The initiative, which is being carried out by UNICEF in partnership with regional groups like the Community Development Center (CODEC), Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF), BRAC, Mukti Cox's Bazar, Friendship, and the COAST Foundation, aims to provide children whose education has been interrupted by extended displacement and waning humanitarian assistance with immediate relief.
UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh Rana Flowers stressed the value of the additional funds in providing children with a fresh sense of direction and optimism. "Regardless of the crises, every child deserves the opportunity to learn. Education Cannot Wait's assistance is invaluable. A child's bridge to dignity, stability, and the future they deserve is more than books and teachings, according to Flowers. When it is safe for them to go back home, the program will assist Rohingya youngsters develop the skills and self-assurance they need to rebuild their communities, she continued.
As international attention and resources diminish, humanitarian organizations have cautioned that the situation in Cox's Bazar is growing more precarious. As of June 2025, over 3,600 learning establishments catering to early childhood through Grade 4 have been forced to close due to a lack of funding. Only roughly half of the Joint Response Plan's educational goals have been reached thus far, according to data from recent evaluations.
The goal of ECW's First Emergency Response grant is to combat these obstacles and guarantee that education is prioritized even in emergency situations. The project seeks to safeguard children from exploitation while fostering their potential and maintaining their cultural identity by funding inclusive learning opportunities and safe spaces.
ECW's dedication to making sure that no child is left behind, even in the most trying humanitarian situations, is reaffirmed by the new funding, which is an essential step in maintaining education for Rohingya Refugee Children and aiding host communities in Bangladesh.